[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 63 (Wednesday, May 8, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4863-S4864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. STEVENS:
  S. 1736. A bill for the relief of Staff Sergeant Charles Raymond 
Stewart and Cynthia M. Stewart of Anchorage, Alaska, and their minor 
son, Jeff Christopher Stewart; to the Committee on the Judiciary.


                       private relief legislation

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, today I am introducing a private bill for 
a young Alaskan, Jeff Stewart. Jeff's father, Charles Stewart was a 
staff sergeant stationed in Germany in 1992. Jeff and his brother were 
playing when Jeff fell and fractured his hip. Jeff was taken to the 
Langstuhl Army Hospital's emergency room where an Army physician failed 
to diagnose his fractured hip. Jeff was sent home for bed rest. Two 
days later Jeff's mother took Jeff to the Air Force clinic at Ramstein 
Air Base because Jeff was still in intense pain. At Ramstein, Jeff was 
seen by an Air Force physician who also failed to diagnose his 
fractured hip and sent Jeff home for bed rest. Six days later Jeff's 
parents took him back to Ramstein where an Air Force nurse diagnosed 
his fractured hip.
  Unfortunately, this diagnosis was too late to prevent permanent 
injury to Jeff. Jeff must now face a painful hip replacement operation 
every 7 to 10 years for the rest of his life.
  My bill will not automatically compensate Jeff and his family; 
rather, it will allow them to bring suit in a U.S. court as they would 
have had a right to do if the treatment had occurred in the United 
States. Nor is this bill meant to infer negligence on the part of the 
United States or the military doctors that treated Jeff Stewart; rather 
it will give Jeff and his family the opportunity to explain their case 
to a judge

[[Page S4864]]

who can make the final decision as to whether or not Jeff should be 
compensated.
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